Today's charity is something different, so I hope you'll bear with me. You see, on Tuesday night 27-year-old Amanda Buckland lost her husband, her 4-year-old son, her 8-month-old daughter, and everything they owned in a house fire. (The house they'd recently begun renting had no smoke detectors.) She and her 12-year-old stepdaughter only escaped thanks to a quick-thinking neighbor with a ladder.

Take a second and think about that level of loss. I, for one, cannot even begin to fathom it.

So today, John and I are donating to the Buckland Family Trust, which was set up by Amanda's employer. I hope you'll join us by donating your dollar, too.

Click below to donate via Paypal, and click here and here to read the latest news stories regarding the fire. Also, many thanks to Kristie, who blogged about Amanda here.

I haven't been on lately . . . giving final exams (including on Christmas day as Christmas isn't a national holiday in China) so I have to catch up on the charity thing. However, my heart goes out to Amanda and her family. What a tragedy.

My husband died (in much less tragic circumstances) 5 years ago at Christmas time. I know only the pain of losing one family member. My special prayers to this woman and her daughter. God love them both.

I cannot even imagine the pain that Amanda must be in. And her step-daughter. My prayers go out to them both as they struggle to continue on in this world. :( My heart just aches. I need to give my kids a big hug as soon as I get home from work today. :(

I'm not sure what's going on in most of these cakes, but they certainly are disturbing. Most of them do look like crime scenes. But what's the pile of pink intestines on top of cabbage leaves about? That one has me stumped (if I can use that word with a clean conscience after seeing those gingerbread men).

I agree with WriteCards - I'm a medical student and the first thing I thought when I saw the third cake was "wow, intestine...how revolting"...I mean, great, you can do pink swirly things, but please stop to consider what that's going to look like when you're done...!

Although I live far from there now, this occurred near my home where I grew up (and will be traveling to this week). I followed the story online when it happened and was heartbroken for the family. I hope they find some comfort in the support of others this holiday season.

I'd take intestine cakes over that tragedy any day... my thoughts and prayers are with all those who suffer horrible tragedy this time of year.. and all year round... these stories are too numerous... may they all rest in peace (i have a nephew who is 4 named joshua... i have to admit that's when i started crying reading this story)

The person who commented that the house they were renting had no smoke detectors being illegal was absolutely right! The landlord should be COMPLETELY responsible for the entire expense, plus compensation for the suffering of this poor young woman and her stepdaughter.

Thanks again for all you are doing for charities this year. My own children are almost exactly the ages of Amanda's, so it really hits home. I have made my donation and hope many many more will as well. It's truly a pathetically small thing to do in comparison with her tragedy. -Melanie

Amanda's story is completely heartwrenching. I've made my contribution and would love to put a donation button on my facebook page for her. Does anyone know if that's possible? Going through my paypal account only seems to set one up for my own account. I'd like it to go straight to the bucklandfamilytrust. Thanks for any help!

What a tragic choice of charity for today. Thank you, sincerely, for bringing it to our attention and letting us do something about it. And, while I remember, so so so so so many kudos to you for this charity countdown, and for all the publicity you've been giving to the various causes. Seriously.

...on the opposite end of the scale, because this is still CakeWrecks, that intestine!cake is like something out of a slasher movie. Augh!

Sigh, its not a wreath with mustard..It's the GRINCHES head (see his eyes up front?)...Looks like he suffered quite a head injury. Grinches have no brains that just have pale pink intestines...where do you think the term "(deleted) for brains" came from?

Now Im disturbed, cause I can translate that mess and decifer who it is. (maybe I watch too many crime solving dramas?)

Although I couldn't give much, I'm happy to give to the Trust. When I was 10, my best friend's neighbour lost their house around Christmas. I felt so bad for their kids. They lost everything they had, but still had each other.

I hope that Amanda and her step-daughter can find comfort in each other during this trying time.

Just yesterday, I actually finally "got around to" putting our smoke detector up in our home (we moved in about a year and a half ago, and the thing has been sitting on top of the fridge waiting to be installed)

It never really felt like a priority, and though it's been in my mind's perpetual to-do list, it just kept getting shuffled down.

But then yesterday, out of the blue, I saw it sitting there and decided that it had been put off for far too long.

And all the "job" entailed was finding a suitable spot to mount it and screwing two screws into the wall. There's really no excuse for putting it off as long as I did.

And now reading this, I see just how lucky I am that my procrastination didn't come with a price.

It's really something that shouldn't be taken for granted.

The family that's going through this tragedy has my deepest sympathies. Having a 2 year old and another on the way really makes this one hit home. I'm not entirely sure I could recover from that sort of pain.

Wow. The intestines just scream 'holiday joy', no? Speaking of screaming, I was the one screaming (with laughter) at the 'merry man-jugs'...

I very quickly stopped laughing when I read about Amanda. What an overwhelming loss, especially at this time of year. My prayers go out to them. Will talk over a donation with the hubs; this is definitely a worthy cause.

I have already given to several charities this Christmas and so I haven't given to any of yours - until today. I just can't even imagine going through something like that. I donated and I'm praying for Amanda. Thanks for bringing this situation to our attention.

I'm like Robin - I haven't donated to much this year because of tough times on our own accord. My Dad has to go through weekly chemo therapy and spent almost a month in the hospital - So I'm trying to help them.

But I couldn't turn away from this. I can't stop crying for how sad I am for Amanda. I donated 10 dollars - not much I know, but it will help.

And for those who are saying to sue the landlord. Though it is awfully dirty of him not to have any in that house - sueing him for money won't bring their family back. Lawsuits don't fix heartbreak.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Amanda and her step-daughter. May her husband and her two little ones rest in piece.

I was just browsing the web today and found out about another charity you might want to include... http://www.cleaningforareason.org/they provide professional housecleaning for women going through chemotherapy treatments.

that being said...I only wish I could donate to today's charity. My heart aches for them and their loss. What a horrid thing to happen at all, but especially at this time of year, when family is so important. :(

And an absolutely heart-wrenching story. I'm not just giving $1. Money won't bring back what they've lost, but they'll need time to regroup and start their new, radically changed life, and money will help give them some breathing room while they do that. A friend of mine lost his house and his son in a tornado last year, and just watching what his family has gone through makes me just ache for this family who has lost even more. There is no pain like the loss of a child, and no pain like the loss of a spouse, and no pain like the loss of a parent. All those are here, compounded by sudden homelessness. Bless you for having this family as your charity of the day. I am also resolved to stop just reading Cake Wrecks and actually give to each of the charities. I've been slacking, and the need is great.

I'm still crying so might have a typo or two. My heart goes out to Amanda and her step-daughter. My God, I can't even imagine what they're going through right now. Thank you John and Jen for bringing Amanda's story to us. All of the highlighted charities, but this one most of all.

Okay, and I have to add my first thought on the brain/intestine cake was it was a pile of mutant fish poop. But at least I was able to laugh today too.

wow. This charity today has ripped to my heart. Followed to Kristie's blog post and I am doing all I can to hold back the tears. Many prayers being lifted up on behalf of Amanda and her step-daughter, as well as the rest of their family and friends.

Despite local laws, the is extraordinarily irresponsible of the landlord. Unbelievable.

Jen, would you consider posting about the lakewood police officers one day?

if you don't know the story already, on November 29th 4 lakewood police officers were shot and killed in a coffee shop while they were preparing for work. they left behind 9 children between the 4 of them.

donations can be made through the lakewood police independent guild. http://www.lpig.us/

Thank you for the warning about the sad story. I always warn people when I tell my sad baby story! I've always said movies should have a rating called "SB" for pregnant women or other sensitive people. They just spring that on you, like in Benjamin Buttons!

I remember as a child when smoke detectors were kind of a new thing, and this story was unfortunately more common. But that's been about 25 years ago now-- I am so angry for this young mother and the people of Michigan that this is not a law! It's not an expensive item, and look what it could have prevented.

In honor of her children, I am checking my smoke detector batteries. Today is my son's half birthday, and this also marks the beginning of winter. At the start of summer, when I test them again, you can bet I will think about what just happened to that family. Thanks for selecting their story to highlight today.

Thank you, Jen and John, for introducing us to today's charity. As a wife and mother, I cannot even begin to comprehend the pain and loss that Amanda Buckland and her daughter are going through. I donated and put a link to today's post on my Facebook page. I hope that this story will move others to give as well. My thoughts and prayers are with this family.

I was just about to post this as an original thought, but after a last minute check of previous posts, I see that Paja beat me to it: the 3rd cake is a bird's eye view of the Grinch's head. Although why anyone would want to celebrate with a cake depicting the top of anyone's head is beyond me.

I don't have a paypal account so I will be sending my donation via snail mail to the address provided. Also I am going to paste a link to it on my facebook page so I can help to spread the word. It is the least I can do.

The 3rd one looks alike a perforated abdomen - although I would expect more necrotic (black) looking guts, but it comes complete with green pus just oooozing out. I can smell it now. (Sorry, that case was that bad.)

What a terrible, unimaginable loss for the Bucklands. They are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you for sharing the information about donating to the fund... I've done so and posted a link on my Facebook page asking friends and family to do the same.

many many prayers for the family! i lost my daughter 4 years ago so i can understand on a small level how heartbroken amanda and her stepdaughter are. i will pray she is surrounded by supporting family and friends.

and that brain cake...wtf? that looks like throwup. who would even think of buying anything like that? sick, sick, sick!

Is it possible to make Amanda's story a separate post? When I try to share on FB, it comes up with the wrecks story first.... I live in MI, and would love to share the message with others in the area....

Thank you for such a wonderful cause for donation. My father was almost killed in a fire when I was 6 years old because there were no smoke detectors in the apartment where he was staying.My heart goes out to this poor young woman.

My donations have decreased through CW because I have had friends come into need themselves. One, a cat blogger, had their house broken into and most of their belongings stolen. The other one, a coworker friend's relatives were in a fire. The kids are 9, 7, and 6. They lost all their belongings, and they didn't have much to being with. So, I made a $100 donation to them for clothes and a few toys for Christmas. The 9 year old girl's hair caught on fire and she got 3rd degree burns on her hands trying to put it out. Luckily that's the worst of it and she's out of the hospital.

The kids are staying with their grandmother and her boyfriend because of a nasty custody battle. Well, the grandmother's boyfriend decided to start a fire in the fireplace with newspaper, kindling, and ... GASOLINE. Of course, there was an explosion. Luckily the two youngest were outside playing at the time, but the 9 year old got the brunt of it. And, it doesn't stop there. The jerk is now trying to blame it on the kids who were outside at the time.

The cakes - as usual, serious wrecks. I think the 3rd is supposed to be a santa hat in a wreath, based upon the odd white blob to one side. But that's just a guess...

As for today's charity, may she find peace in the year to come, and may the public allow her the space to mourn in her own fashion. We had a tragedy here many years ago where I had to have the highway patrol help me bounce a local tv personality because she couldn't take no for an answer at their funeral. *sigh*

Nobody should EVER have to go through what Amanda must be going through right now. It really puts into perspective what is important and just how small my problems. I I am donating and praying for this young woman and her step-daughter.

And I just have to say...I'm broke. I've hand-made all my presents this year, and I have to hand them out at our family dinner on New Year's, as I don't have enough to ship them.

But I gave to Amanda. I wish I could give to all the charities this month, but I cant...and I wasn't planning to, with my current situation. I wasn't able to give much, but I can hardly imagine what she's going through, and maybe with everyone together there can be some semblance of peace for her.

That poor woman. I have a 4 year old son, and I cannot imagine losing him, in any manner at all. But to lose the son as well as a baby daughter AND a husband - my god. I can't imagine the pain she must be in. Why do these horrible things happen to people?

I hope you guys realise what an amazing thing you're doing by using this apparently frivolously passion to touch our hearts for the things that matter. I live a long way from these people but my heart goes out to them and I hope our collective donations and prayers can help provide some comfort.

I did think of intestines too when I saw the 3rd. cake! So disgusting!!! who could eat something like that? It would probably be a great birthday cake for Dr. Hannibal Lecter! anybody else agrees with me?

I've loved all the charities you've posted thus far- I've even been involved with a few (I dug wells for a summer in Mozambique, Africa). But I'm now working as an artist, and barely have money to pay rent and eat.

But then I read this story, about the girl with the same name as me, and I shaken. So I donated (not much, not enough, but what I could). I'm so sorry, Amanda.

Look, the criminal left his doggy footprints at the scene of the poochicide! the blood seeped icing with his tongue hanging out--wtf?

Love the electrified gingerbread man's "shocked" eyes and scarf, too!

WHAT, in God's name, is that third cake supposed to be? A wreath? or is the greenery the bed for the intestine pie that's being served with a trail of mustard around the edge. please, what is the backstory here? how unappetizing.

Mr. Gingerbread Bill does look like an attack victim. The icing is even smudged where his arms were stolen. I wonder if there's a cookie crumb trail to the culprit....

(he actually looks a little ghostly)

Is man jug Santa naked? except for the boots and white mittens? there's an image I didn't need. He looks a little shocked. Maybe he just caught his reflection.

Is that a flower shaped pan they used to make him?

That Dallas crime scene cake cracks me up! "Dallas written in blood" and love the little plastic hat on top of flat Santa. He looks like he got hit right as he was putting the little present under the tree. See how it seems a little flung to the edge?

garnish brains with wreaths of mustard....set it on cabbage leaves with mayo....

now we've all lost our app-e-tites, fa la la la la, la la la la.

come to think of it, maybe it WAS supposed to be a Santa hat on a xmas tree. the mustard may be garland and there is a trailing piece with a possible pom pom. but why pink? and why entrail-like? and WHY a Santa hat on a tree? and why a top view? at least the garland could look more festive. sheesh.

I like the theory that the tree is making off with the gift. And if you look closely, Santa is either wearing corduroy or he has treadmarks. however, the hat still being stiff and erect is baffling. is it a santa hat helmet?

also, here in NJ we're required to have smokes on every level and within the doorway of each bedroom. but for older homes, they can sometimes make do with less. but still must have SOME smokes. plus, aren't there "international codes" that govern this thing? how can it be legal anywhere in the u.s.?

Thanks so much for telling us about Amanda's situation. We lost our home to fire 29 years ago this past December and lost all our belongings. The one thing that comforted us was not losing a life. My heart and prayers goes out to her family, and I hope that my small contribution helps somewhat. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help.

I was really bummed yesterday because I wanted to donate to this family and yet my financial situation prevented me from doing so. But then...after reading one of the articles you had linked to, I had a great idea. I am going to Sears after work to buy a gift card and mail it to the address in the article. I even called the people to let them know that I would be sending it! Yes, I have to charge it but you know what? In this case, it's perfectly alright!

My prayers are with the woman who lost her husband and children in the fire. I can't imagine the pain she must be going through. I don't cry often, but I am actually crying right now thinking about her loss.

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